Overview

Rheumatrex is a prescription medication originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for fighting cancer. Rheumatrex was approved in 1971 for treatment of psoriasis and 1988 for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In people with mild cases of lupus, Rheumatrex was used to reduce pain and swelling in joints, skin lesions and pleuritis, an infection in the tissue that lines the lungs. Rheumatrex was also known by its drug name, methotrexate.

Rheumatrex was an immunomodulator, or in other words, a drug that modulates the immune system. It was an antimetabolite which blocks the synthesis of purine, a protein the body needs in order to produce lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell active in the immune system. Rheumatrex was believed to work by interfering with lymphocytes and preventing them from attacking the body in lupus.

How was it taken?

Rheumatrex was given weekly, either orally as a tablet or by injection.

Side effects

The most commonly reported side effects of Rheumatrex included mouth ulcers, malaise, fatigue, nausea, temporary hair loss, abdominal distress, changes in blood cell count, dizziness, abnormal liver function test results, and lowered resistance to infection. 

More serious side effects of Rheumatrex included liver damage, lung infections, and increased sensitivity to sunlight. 

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Rheumatrex — Drugs.com